LOUGHBOROUGH’s world swimming champion Liam Tancock was due to fly out to sunny Florida this week to step up his bid for honours at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October.

Tancock is part of an eight-strong British squad, including fellow College students Elizabeth Simmonds and Fran Halsall, swapping the big freeze for the very best training conditions over the next three weeks as he prepares for the Commonwealth trials in March.

“It’s nice to be leaving the snow behind but it certainly won’t be a holiday,” said the 24-year-old backstroke world champion and record holder shortly before his departure.

“It’ll be intensive pool and gym work to prepare us for the trials.”

The sports science student is looking to build on a gold and two silver medals in the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne but is unsure how many events he will be trialling in this time.

“I’m 100 per cent committed to the 100m backstroke and will have to see if there is a separate trial for the 50m,” said Tancock, who has no concerns at this stage about security issues in India.

Tancock says the British team is extremely well placed to build on a very successful Olympics and World Championships and is unconcerned about American domination of the much-publicised Duel in the Pool featured on live TV in Manchester just before Christmas.

“That was largely a bit of fun as far as I was concerned,” said Tancock, who was third in his sole race.

“It was during a time of top training for me, which isn’t when I normally compete. My aim is to be in peak condition for a limited number of events each year and this year that is the Commonwealth Games.

“I did, however, really enjoy the showcase event which has helped the profile of the sport. It was a chance for the public to get up close and personal with the top swimmers and I look forward to it being repeated.”